Surprises and let-downs of 2011!

Surprises

1. Hand lotion. 

I never used hand lotion because I hate the way my hands feel afterwards. I can't touch anything, my hands are greasy, and I'd have to wash my hands right after applying lotion. I just didn't like to use hand lotion. My hands are never really dry all the time anyways. I have days when they are dry, but those are those days when I work in the lab a lot or do a lot of cleaning and therefore soaking my hands constantly. At some point I discovered a way to use hand lotion without getting the greasy feel. I just apply the lotion on the backs of my hands, not on the side the touches everything. So even then when I figured out how to apply hand lotion I didn't own any hand lotions. I got a hand lotion (BeSave!) from a blogger meet up, and I had bought an Elizabeth Arden set with hand cream, so I have been carrying them with me.

2. Liquid foundation

I used to think liquid foundation is really heavy and always makes me look like I am wearing foundation. I was wrong. 

I am currently using two foundations by Clinique. Even better foundation in 3 Ivory (left) and Perfectly real makeup in shade 01 (right). I mix two drops of the Even better foundation with one drop of Perfectly real makeup to get my right shade. First I had the Even better, and 3 Ivory is the lightest shade, but on it's own it is too dark. Probably the perfect shade in the summer.

3. Estee Lauder lengthening mascara

The brush is really nice. It lengthens my lashes and doesn't clump. It doesn't give volume, but that I get by applying a volumizing mascara on top.

4. Korres lip butter

Mine is the Plum-shade. It gives you a lovely color to your lips and moisturizes. It is great! You can apply a thin layer or a thicker layer and that way control the color of your lips.

5. MAC Blacktrack fluidline

I used to hate gel liners. I don't anymore. I love this product!

Let-downs


1. Inglot freedom palette

There is nothing wrong with the product. Pigmentation of the shadows is great, but I just don't grab for the palette. I feel it was a waste of money.

2.  Max Factor Masterpiece mascara

The mascara itself isn't bad, but not great either. The price tag is horrible and the amount of product, especially compared to the price is horrendous. I got mine from a sale for 9.90€ ($12.76), but it has 4,5 ml of product! 4,5 ml!! 4,5 ml!!!

3. IsaDora Eyeshadow trios

I just don't like them. I think the colors are bland, they aren't pigmented enough and the dome-shape of the shadow is just horrible. The shadow creates a mess when you stick your brush in the shadow, the shadow just flies off of the dome.

4. Garnier Roll-on Anti-dark circles

The coverage is good. I love how light-weight it is. My eyes just react to it, they get somewhat irritated every single time I have used this product.

Disclaimer: I have bought the products myself, except for the BeSave hand lotion, and the IsaDora eyeshadow trios. Those two were given to me at a blog meetup's goodie bag. My opinions.

What are the products you loved in 2011 and what are those you didn't?

Favorite 11 blogs of 2011!

I saw Tiffany / Will Work for Makeup show her Top 11 favorite blogs and youtubers and I wanted to do the same.

These are in no particular order. Some I have been following for years, some for only a week or two. These are the 11 that popped in my mind when I thought about the top 11. I was thinking of adding Tiffany to this list too because I love her blog, but since I copied this from her I thought it would be odd if I'd add her blog to this list. Her blog is one of my favorites in any case.

I am not a big commenter. I could start commenting more, in fact, I want to make that my New Year's resolution. 

Top 11 Blogs - International Edition  - meaning there will be English and Finnish blogs.

1. Amarixe
2. Fashioned in Finland
3. Glitter is my crack
4. Phyrra
5. Of Faces and Fingers
6. APAMJ
7. Pumpulipupu*
8. Lazy Dynamite*
9. Kosmetiikkaobsessio*
10. Obsessed with vanity
11. Eyelining Obsessions


*= Finnish text only

What are your favorites for this year?

The Ultimate Choices

Few bloggers have done this already and I decided to join the bandwagon. 

(Anette /Don't Touch My Tiara, Terhen /.SENSAISTI., Sonia / Tyttö ilman helmikorvakorua)

You choose the products you could not live without, and then list one product for each category. 

I could not live without are:

-mascara

-liquid eyeliner

-brow pencil

Yes, that is it.

Products I can live without, but would prefer to have are:

-foundation

-blush

-eyeshadow

Now begins the hard part; choosing one product for each category.

For mascara I think I would go with Maybelline's Volum Express in black. I have used that for years, and if I can't decide on what mascara to test next, I return to Volum Express.

Liquid Eyeliner could be either a cake eyeliner, or Sensai's liquid eyeliner, or We Care Icon's liquid eyeliner. I think I would now choose Sensai's liquid eyeliner, just because you don't need a brush and water to use it. I love cake eyeliners because they stay on really well and last a lifetime, don't get me wrong, but whenever I travel cake eyeliners can be a bit of a pain. 

As for what brow pencil I would use, I don't really have a preference. I have tried several, but I can't see a clear difference between the two. Right now I am using IsaDora's brow pencil in light brown. It is not a reddish brown. I need more of a gray brown pencil. 

I really liked mineral powder foundations, but for some reason this fall I haven't been able to use them as my skin has been dryer than before, or something. I don't really know what it is. My current foundation is very good. It is Clinique's Even better foundation in 03, ivory.  

As for blushes, I really don't have a favorite. Any pinkish shade will do, but preferably an off-shade if you know what I mean. I don't know the name in English. 

I think for eyeshadows I would choose my Manly 120, because it does have a lot of colors, and neutrals as well. Other option would be the Naked-palette. Or an Inglot-freedom palette, like others have mentioned already.

Now, it is your turn!!! 

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturiser for Face SPF 15

I got a sample of this when I bought an Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Starter Kit. There was the Eight hour cream (15 ml), Hand Treatment (30 ml) and this daily moisturiser (15 ml).

I have normal-dry mixed skin (until recently, I was under the assumption that I have dry skin). It is normal on my cheeks, my forehead is dry, my nose has some blackheads, and my chin has pimples occasionally. Lately more than before, I keep thinking it's because of hormonal reasons, rather than wrong producs. I haven't figured it out yet.

I really started using this last week. My forehead was really dry, there was skin flaking off. Applying any foundation made it look worse. Mineral Powder foundation looked awful, and liquid foundation looked better, but still not very nice. I had tried to fix my forehead by using the basic Eight Hour Cream at night on my forehead, but that didn't do anything for the flakes.

Then on one morning, I applied this face moisturizer all over my face, concentrating on my forehead. Liquid foundation looked better than ever. It was such a smooth finish. I did use a Lumene  face primer, but I always use that. I had just changed the moisturizer. I use this moisturizer daily now, and I have no dryness on my forehead (and the pimples are disappearing from my chin).

The moisturizer is very thick, and it takes a while to sink in, but once it's sunk in, my skin feels moisturized and smooth.

I don't mind the smell. It goes away once there's other makeup on my face.

I think I am going to buy a full size version of this moisturizer. It is wonderful for me, especially during the winter.

My second favorite cream from this set is the hand lotion. I'm one to never use hand cream. When I use hand cream, I feel I need to wash my hands immediately, because if I don't I cant touch anything. Only after  chemistry lab work in school my hands are really dry because I am constantly washing my hands in addition to the normal daily hand washes. I don't really see the point of using hand lotion daily. But I like it. I still avoid rubbing hand lotion all over my hands, now I only put it on the top side of the hand.. what is that called? Not the palm side, but that other side? :D Anyways, the hand lotion isn't too creamy, it doesn't make me feel like I need to wash my hands right after.

The Body Shop - Blueberry Body Butter -review

Blueberry body butter is my favorite body butter of all time. It smells so delicious! I use it in the winter only, cause then my skin is that dry that it needs the extra moisturizing. In fact, they only sell Blueberry body butter in the winter anyways... 

This body butter is directed for dry skin. And I can vouch for that. 

This is very thick, 9 hours after application I can still feel it on my skin. It doesn't absorb right away, it takes its time. Which is why I use this on those days when I can stay at home and wear my pj's. I would never put jeans on after applying this. Sometimes I apply this right before bed, put on my pj's, and go to sleep, shower in the morning and then it's okay to dress. 

I don't use this daily, it would be way too much. I use this once or twice a week. Also I only put this on the bottom half of my body. The scent is there, but it isn't overpowering. Still, I don't want to be completely covered in Blueberry-scented body butter. 

I bought this last winter. I only opened it now. I heard that this would only be sold for one season, which apparently isn't true, but that freaked me out so I bought a couple, and had this one left for this winter. I stored it in a cool place, but not a cold place. I only opened it recently too. 

This body butter is really thick, so if I would want to use body butters daily, I'd use something less thick for most of the days, and then this one for dry skin I'd use once a week or so. But still, this is one of my all time favorites! 

What is your favorite Body Shop Body Butter scent?

PS. Don't forget to enter my first giveaway in Serafia's Makeup Drawer! It ends Oct 31 2011 at 8.00 pm GMT +2.00.

My favorite, most flattering look.

I feel like this is my favorite look. In real life, this looks really flatterin on me, my eyes are it. Really nice looking, this is very easy to over-do and make it look horrible. But with the right shades this makes eyes look wonderful. I have darkish green eyes, with a little blue (and yellow). Contacts enhance the blue-ness a little, without contacts my eyes are more green-yellow.

I used GDE's Infectious on the lid. I softened the inner corner with NYX's beige from the trio Rock'n'Roll. I also used that to blend in the crease. I used MAC's Satin taupe in the crease and outer corner. Also under my lower lash line I put Infectious and Satin Taupe. 

Same picture without the text of products used. 

MAC's Satin taupe is probably my best MAC purchase. Probably the best, most versatile eyeshadow that I own. I use it in the crease just with MAC's Bare Study paint pot on the lid. Wonderful and simple.

Also, can I just say I love my eyebrows? I love, love, love them. Fine, they need a little cleaning up, but the shape in general is just awesome. :D